HOW TO GET STARTED IN TECH — TIPS TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH
Introduction
For every newbie or person trying to get into tech, one of the biggest questions they keep asking is “how to get started?” “how do I go about entering this field?” (more like fields, cause of how vast the tech world is).
These questions keep them in a dilemma, and for so many, eventually, stop them from getting started. Many times, this consequently leads to the death of their “Tech dreams”.
While I agree that getting into tech is HARDDD!, especially when you have no direct mentors or guides like myself in my early days, it is absolutely doable.
My previous article touches on what you need to know before getting started in your tech journey, this article would provide you with tips to guide your journey in your early days in tech.
So, let’s go!
- Outline your current skillset
Tech is really about an innovative and advanced way of solving problems. What this means is that there exist some traditional ways you can do certain things, and that is where your current skills come in.
A practical example is someone that already works in say a marketing job, everyday you interface with customers and users of your product or whatever you’re trying to promote. During this time, you probably have had to give out questionnaires and ask questions on how your company can improve on their products and services, and then return the feedback to the company for improvement.
That's top research skills you have there. Imagine having skills that put the outcomes of that research in beautifully designed dashboards?
You can start here. What skills do you have? Is there a better or “tech-driven” way to do it? And how do you go about it?
Outlining your current skills helps give you clarity on what you have and what you can improve upon.
2. Research
One of the most important steps or tips anyone can give you when getting started in tech is to tell you to research. As a newbie or someone interested in tech, researching to find out where your current non-tech skills fit in would help you understand a suitable path for your journey.
Tech is very vast. This is largely due to its many applications and specialties. Trust me, starting from what you’re familiar with, is an easy entry point to tech.
Researching helps you identify that area and sift through it to find where your skills lie or can fit in.
Researching also helps you identify tools, special areas, and communities within the tech ecosystem. Thorough research will save you a great deal of time when you start your journey.
Research! Research! Research!
3. Choose a path
Like I said earlier, there are so many paths within tech. After researching find a path that suits your current skills, and focus on that. Choose a path and start building skills in that path. Try to remain focused on this path, and build considerable skills in it.
One beautiful thing about tech is how you can grow into diverse roles, but you need to start somewhere and that is where this comes in. Check out this article on Freecodecamp on choosing a tech path for you.
Choose a path, build skills in it and grow from there.
4. Find tools and resources to work with
After identifying a path to take, the next important step is getting and building skills in that path.
There are a number of free resources and sites you can access both online and offline to work with and build your skills. Take advantage of them and start working to build those skills. I’ve outlined some sites here for easy access.
- Microsoft Learn
- Youtube (a goldmine in my opinion)
- Coursera
- W3 school
- Freecodecamp and many others.
Some of these platforms offer badges and certificates for completing a course or skill challenge. This thread breaks down the financial aid application process for Coursera.
5. Join a community and Learn in Public!
Joining communities is a great way to connect with mentors and people learning. Public learning opens you up to constructive criticism on the work you’re doing and helps you grow.
It also exposes you to a community of people in similar fields, exposing you to opportunities within your tech journey.
For some like me who get inspired and encouraged by what other people do, learning in public is a great way to measure what you’re doing with what others have done, it gives room for improvement and great opportunities.
To be more personal, most of the gigs or opportunities I have gotten were from communities I belong to. The amount of resources and opportunities within communities is something you’ll definitely benefit from.
Transitioning into tech is not an easy task, especially with a tight schedule and limited resources. You can however do so smoothly by following useful tips that make it easier.
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Also, remember to join the Nsonye community on slack —
Joyce is a Pharmacist and data analyst with an interest in social impact. She is passionate about ensuring more people get interested in tech, especially women and girls through the Nsonye project to increase their participation and inclusion in tech.
